The power of QR codes
A QR code contains a small amount of encoded data, offering a wide range of practical uses.
QR codes are usually created to encode the URL of a resource, such as the link to a restaurant menu. These codes can be static and printed on paper, allowing updates to the online content without needing to alter the physical code, since the URL remains unchanged.
Technically, the mobile device reads the encoded data from the QR code. This flow of information is one-directional: from the QR code to the mobile device. However, QR codes can be dynamically generated and used to initiate a connection between devices. This is how WhatsApp Web uses a QR code to establish a session in a computer browser. Similarly, some services enable seamless authentication for TV apps or web apps: your authenticated mobile phone scans the QR code, sharing credential information with the target app.
Cool Maze is unusual because it facilitates transferring data from the mobile device to the QR code device. Moreover, the two devices do not establish a direct connection and do not communicate directly with each other. Instead, all communication is routed through a cloud server. This decoupling enhances privacy: the target computer receives no details about the mobile source, and vice versa.
The QR code displayed at coolmaze.io is a dynamically generated unique value. This value contains just enough information to enable the transfer using a one-off routing ID, and end-to-end encryption using a one-off cryptographic secret key. This secret key safeguards the privacy of your data throughout the process.